Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have one item to report, concerning restrictions on shipment. Today, in accordance with Article 20, Paragraph 3 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness, it has been decided to establish restrictions on shipment of tea produced in the cities of Shibukawa and Kiryu in Gunma Prefecture. Instructions to this effect have been issued to the governor of Gunma Prefecture. For further details, please direct your questions to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: A citizens' organization created by parents and guardians in Fukushima Prefecture called "Fukushima Network for Saving Children from Radiation" has implemented a survey to assess the impact of the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The results have shown that the urine samples of 10 children, male and female, aged between 6 and 16 years in Fukushima City, all showed traces of radioactive cesium. The report from this organization states that the results of the survey shows that children in the vicinity of Fukushima City have been exposed to radiation internally. Could I ask how the Government views these results?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is something that will be a source of great worry for all people involved and it is also a cause for worry for the Government. Both Fukushima Prefecture and the central government are implementing similar surveys and if the citizens' organization that has implemented the survey reported in the press could share the details of the findings, the Government would like to have the results analyzed by experts.

REPORTER: Given the results of this survey, the parents and guardians are requesting that children living outside the designated evacuation areas should also be evacuated as a matter of urgency. How does the Government intend to respond to this request?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that such sentiments and opinions are only natural. First of all the prefectural and national governments would like to implement health check-ups as a matter of urgency to ascertain when and how the children were exposed to radiation and what potential impact there is for their health as a result. As this citizens' group has gone to the trouble of implementing their own survey, we would like to have this data analyzed by experts.

REPORTER: It has been announced that 113 households in Fukushima Prefecture have been designated as Specific Spots Recommended for Evacuation. What is the Government's response to this announcement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The Specific Spots Recommended for Evacuation have been established based on the details, status and judgments that have already been reported. In specific terms the local response headquarters has been engaged in close consultation with the people involved at the prefectural and municipal level, and this process of consultation ultimately led to the announcement today concerning Date City. For the areas that have been designated on this occasion, the Government will provide maximum support to those people who wish to evacuate and will continue to engage in monitoring of other areas that are not currently subject to designation, in order to ensure that there is no adverse impact on people's health.

REPORTER: With regards to the issue of double loans, I understand that the three parties were able to come to an agreement a moment ago. In terms of the content, I believe the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) largely accepted the proposal of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito Party. That is, the DPJ agreed to establish a new organization as stressed by the LDP and New Komeito Party rather than utilize the small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) revival fund which the DPJ had originally intended to do. May I ask what your assessment is of the fact that the three parties were able to reach an agreement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have not yet been briefed about the details. However, in any case, I do not believe this is an issue over which there are differences with respect to each of the parties' vision, or in a large sense, methodology. While a variety of opinions exist with respect to the specific details, I believe, in terms of actually moving forward with our response to the double loan issue in a swift manner, it is important to establish an agreement which is as wide-ranging as possible. I am therefore very grateful if the parties were indeed able to reach a concrete and definitive agreement.

REPORTER: Aside from the issue of double loans, I believe the Government will need to discuss a variety of legislations with the ruling and opposition parties going forward. Please tell us your thoughts on how the Government intends to go about doing this.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Under the Constitution of Japan, the decision-making power on those items requiring legislation rests with the Diet. The Cabinet has a responsibility to present ideas which it thinks is best to the Diet, and I believe the Cabinet needs to continue to thoroughly carry out this responsibility. At the same time, we cannot afford to let differences in opinion between the parties on small and specific details hinder the progress, especially as the response to the earthquake disaster or nuclear incident is also a battle with time in some respects. Therefore, I believe it is best if at the Diet the parties can establish an agreement which is as broad as possible while sharing the same overall vision. This will require that the parties make efforts, and we will continue to ask that such efforts are made.

REPORTER: Tomorrow, I believe a government ordinance will be issued which will restrict electricity use. We've had consecutive days of hot, midsummer weather recently, and I was wondering if you can once again discuss the Government's forecast for the electricity supply and demand for this summer.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The electricity restriction ordinance applies to consumers of large quantities of electricity. However, if we consider the impact on industry and in what ways energy conservation is realistically feasible, I believe it is important, for example, that small offices or individuals conserve energy in a variety of settings with the cooperation of many people, even if their electricity usage is relatively small compared with the overall electricity demand. At the same time, there are also people who become ill as a result of heat stroke from this heat. In that respect, the energy conservation efforts must be premised on health and heat stroke measures must be in place. In this context, we hope to make it through the summer by asking individual households, office buildings, and others to conserve electricity as much as possible in ways which will not affect peoples' health and so on.

REPORTER: Since I am not in Fukushima, I just wish to confirm whether my understanding is correct that the areas in Date City designated as Specific Spots Recommended for Evacuation today were 113 households in four zones. In addition, I believe you were saying that areas in Minamisoma City may also be designated. How are you considering this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Regarding your question on Date City, the designation applies to 113 households in 104 locations in four zones. As for parts of Minamisoma City, we are now compiling the monitoring results and coordinating with the members of the communities.

(Abridged)